Not the National/Euro millions lottery, no, but for me so,so much better.

Sadly, and without any symptoms or warning, I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer in Dec 2010, the 21st to be exact, that Xmas was a blast!

Anyway, after 8 weeks of daily radiotherapy starting in Oct 2011, which resulted in my nether regions being blasted with x-rays more than 2200 times, backed up with mthly injections, I got the news I was desperate to hear on Tuesday, when my wife and I attended the Royal Marsden in Sutton.

I could come off the injections/drugs, and just have six monthly blood tests!
Our elation was palpable, and it was a while until my wife and I came down off the ceiling.

I'm not out of the woods just yet, however my Oncologist has said I've done incredibly well, and my prognosis is 100% better than it was two yrs ago, when writing a will, and arranging a funeral was not far off reality.

It's been tough for all the family, which worsened considerably when my kid sister was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2012.
It was a dagger to the heart for both my Sis and I, obviously the situation was much, much worse for my Sis, as she now faced losing one of her breasts, followed by Chemo, which would decimate her crowning glory (hair), a cruel, cruel blow for any woman to have to go through.
Like me she has done incredibly well, has finished the chemo, and is now on a yearly course of injections and a prolonged course of oral drugs, she is/has been incredibly brave, and her prognosis, like mine is much, much better. Her young children (8/10) have coped admirably with the situation, and are a fantastic credit to her, given the circumstances.

On the plus, minus side, with the after effects of my treatment, I have a cleavage Gwyneth Paltrow would be proud of, zero hair on my body, far, far more on my head, and the hair on my head is 'Your worth it' hair, and put's Cheryl Coles barnet to shame.
I'll leave out the really f*ck off horrendous after effects of the treatment

Every cloud..........

As a result of all the MRI/CT scans I had for the cancer, a condition that had blighted my life for the past 30 yrs was discovered, I was diagnosed with Achalasia in Dec 2011.
Whilst there is no definite reason for the condition, it was probably triggered by some teenage feckwittery on my part, which involved doing stuff I shouldn't have been doing and the pursuit of the finer sex, but, I didn't half enjoy it the time!

After key hole surgery in Dec last year at the Chelsea & Westminster, my life has been transformed completely in a very different way, the operation was so successful that after just 2 mths of having the OP I was discharged.

I can now eat/drink without any problems, and going out for a family meal is a joy, and not a chore.

Icing on the cake...............

After 14 mths of self imposed unemployment whilst I dealt with my health problems and recuperated, I've just been through two very tough selection processes for a new position.

One third interview (nightmare process!) for one of the opportunities was on the Monday (4th), the other second interview for another role was on the morning of the 5th, and the same day of my afternoon visit to the Marsden.

The result is two job offers, one offer was made on the 6th, 24 hrs after the interview, and 10 hrs after receiving the great news from the Marsden, the second offer was made on the 7th.

I become an employee again as of the 18th of this month, 26 months since that terrible day back in 2010.

For those who asked, yes, my car was just one casualty of all the above, but the company car is unbelievably a 5mth old 3 series, probably a E90, but unlikely to have a twin turbo engine, but I care not one jot.

I'm not one to put personal stuff in an open forum, so not many of the members knew of my predicament, but for those who did, many, many thanks for the PM's over the last couple of yrs, and the support, it did mean a lot.

The NHS rocks!

Despite the bad press it often receives, my experience of the NHS whilst going through the journey has been nothing short of fantastic.
The support, advice, compassion and overall care has been exemplary, and no words can truely express my sentiments towards all those who helped me through it.

I've seen the good, bad and truely awful during my stint, from a smashing 44yr old Guy who tragically never made it, RIP.

To the 86yr old veteran of the Aden conflict, whose stories were both awesome and hilarious, and is still battling on.

To the very, very young Leukaemia sufferers whose resilience and utter bravery in the face of the treatment they have to endure, were both humbling and inspirational in equal measure.

My whole family is fecking delirious with happiness and joy, and were I allowed to get hammered/blatted/blasted/legless/comatose in a drunken haze I would.
My Sis and I can't wait to celebrate her inevitable (hopefully) 100% recovery from her ordeal, and by then I will be able to get totally and utterly ratfaced, and my kid Sis can pick up my pieces, and deal with the messy consequences !

Apologies for the ramble.

__________________

=================================

Never argue with an idiot on the internet. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Lost some good friends this last year, male and female, to various forms of the Big C. So, so good that you're coming out the other side, and my continued best wishes.
Also to your sister - many many good thoughts for her.

Fantastic news Ian. Like Dave I'd heard on the grapevine and feared it was along these lines and great news to hear you're doing so well. A very valued member of E90post so your story is truly inspiring and glad you took the time to speak out. I'm sure many of us on here will be able to relate your words to old, current or future situations and may help them cope so thanks again.

Obviously our thoughts are now with your Sister to follow the family trait of showing big C that it doesn't win that easily.

Ian,
I didn't hear about your illness until very recently and was incredibly shocked to hear the news. So, hearing this is absolutely fantastic, I'm absolutely over the moon for you and your family. I look forward to catching up over a beer with you very soon.

Not the National/Euro millions lottery, no, but for me so,so much better.

Sadly, and without any symptoms or warning, I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer in Dec 2010, the 21st to be exact, that Xmas was a blast!

Anyway, after 8 weeks of daily radiotherapy starting in Oct 2011, which resulted in my nether regions being blasted with x-rays more than 2200 times, backed up with mthly injections, I got the news I was desperate to hear on Tuesday, when my wife and I attended the Royal Marsden in Sutton.

I could come off the injections/drugs, and just have six monthly blood tests!
Our elation was palpable, and it was a while until my wife and I came down off the ceiling.

I'm not out of the woods just yet, however my Oncologist has said I've done incredibly well, and my prognosis is 100% better than it was two yrs ago, when writing a will, and arranging a funeral was not far off reality.

It's been tough for all the family, which worsened considerably when my kid sister was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2012.
It was a dagger to the heart for both my Sis and I, obviously the situation was much, much worse for my Sis, as she now faced losing one of her breasts, followed by Chemo, which would decimate her crowning glory (hair), a cruel, cruel blow for any woman to have to go through.
Like me she has done incredibly well, has finished the chemo, and is now on a yearly course of injections and a prolonged course of oral drugs, she is/has been incredibly brave, and her prognosis, like mine is much, much better. Her young children (8/10) have coped admirably with the situation, and are a fantastic credit to her, given the circumstances.

On the plus, minus side, with the after effects of my treatment, I have a cleavage Gwyneth Paltrow would be proud of, zero hair on my body, far, far more on my head, and the hair on my head is 'Your worth it' hair, and put's Cheryl Coles barnet to shame.
I'll leave out the really f*ck off horrendous after effects of the treatment

Every cloud..........

As a result of all the MRI/CT scans I had for the cancer, a condition that had blighted my life for the past 30 yrs was discovered, I was diagnosed with Achalasia in Dec 2011.
Whilst there is no definite reason for the condition, it was probably triggered by some teenage feckwittery on my part, which involved doing stuff I shouldn't have been doing and the pursuit of the finer sex, but, I didn't half enjoy it the time!

After key hole surgery in Dec last year at the Chelsea & Westminster, my life has been transformed completely in a very different way, the operation was so successful that after just 2 mths of having the OP I was discharged.

I can now eat/drink without any problems, and going out for a family meal is a joy, and not a chore.

Icing on the cake...............

After 14 mths of self imposed unemployment whilst I dealt with my health problems and recuperated, I've just been through two very tough selection processes for a new position.

One third interview (nightmare process!) for one of the opportunities was on the Monday (4th), the other second interview for another role was on the morning of the 5th, and the same day of my afternoon visit to the Marsden.

The result is two job offers, one offer was made on the 6th, 24 hrs after the interview, and 10 hrs after receiving the great news from the Marsden, the second offer was made on the 7th.

I become an employee again as of the 18th of this month, 26 months since that terrible day back in 2010.

For those who asked, yes, my car was just one casualty of all the above, but the company car is unbelievably a 5mth old 3 series, probably a E90, but unlikely to have a twin turbo engine, but I care not one jot.

I'm not one to put personal stuff in an open forum, so not many of the members knew of my predicament, but for those who did, many, many thanks for the PM's over the last couple of yrs, and the support, it did mean a lot.

The NHS rocks!

Despite the bad press it often receives, my experience of the NHS whilst going through the journey has been nothing short of fantastic.
The support, advice, compassion and overall care has been exemplary, and no words can truely express my sentiments towards all those who helped me through it.

I've seen the good, bad and truely awful during my stint, from a smashing 44yr old Guy who tragically never made it, RIP.

To the 86yr old veteran of the Aden conflict, whose stories were both awesome and hilarious, and is still battling on.

To the very, very young Leukaemia sufferers whose resilience and utter bravery in the face of the treatment they have to endure, were both humbling and inspirational in equal measure.

My whole family is fecking delirious with happiness and joy, and were I allowed to get hammered/blatted/blasted/legless/comatose in a drunken haze I would.
My Sis and I can't wait to celebrate her inevitable (hopefully) 100% recovery from her ordeal, and by then I will be able to get totally and utterly ratfaced, and my kid Sis can pick up my pieces, and deal with the messy consequences !

Apologies for the ramble.

So you have breasts and a hairless body? I bet you look great in that PVC catsuit now!